Colonel D J SCANLAN CSM, RFD

Colonel Scanlan was elected to Life Membership in 2020

Colonel Scanlan was President of the Club 2010-11

Dennis Joseph Scanlan was born in in 1951, to Jack and Mary. He has 2 siblings – Marilyn and John (who also was an Reserve officer).

The family lived at Camp Hill and Dennis was educated at St Thomas’s Camp Hill and Villanova College, Coorparoo [1961 – 1969]. He married Gwenda (née Slocombe) in Brisbane in 1972 and they had three children - Andrew, Kirsty and Patrick. They have six grandchildren.

Joining the Citizen Military Forces in 1970, Dennis graduated as an officer from Course 6, Officer Cadet Training Unit (OCTU), Northern Command in October 1971. During his Reserve career he commanded at platoon, squadron and battalion level. Following his posting as Chief Instructor, Regimental Training Wing, 1st Training Group, he raised and was the first Commanding Officer of the 7th Brigade Administrative Support Battalion (7BASB) [1994-96]. He was promoted to Colonel in 2000 as the Director Army Personnel Agency – Brisbane; was the Deputy Commander 7th Brigade [2002-04], and was the Assistant Commander, HQ Land Warfare Centre, Canungra [2005-06]. In 2007, he was posted to the Standby Reserve.

We thank the History Interest Group and other volunteers who have researched and prepared these Notes The series will be progressively expanded and developed. They are intended as casual reading for the benefit of Members, who are encouraged to advise of any inaccuracies in the material. Please do not reproduce them or distribute them outside of the Club membership.

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Dennis was Colonel Commandant, Royal of Transport – Northern Region (QLD) [2007-10]. In 2014, he was recalled to the Active Reserve as the Historical Collection Officer, HQ /DJFHQ to establish a HQ historical collection precinct for the 1st Division’s Centenary and provided continuity to the Division’s commemorative events in 2015 and 2016. He was the project officer responsible for the writing of Training for War - The History of Headquarters 1st Division 1914 – 2014.

He served as an Honorary Aide-de-Camp to five Governors General from 2000 until 2017 (Deane, Hollingworth, Jeffery, Bryce, and Cosgrove) and was a committee member and later Deputy Chair of the Defence Reserve Support Council – [2001-2014]. Dennis retired from the Army on 29 June 2017.

For his military service Dennis was awarded the Conspicuous Service Medal in the Queen’s Birthday 1997 Honours, the Reserve Force Decoration and 4 Clasps, the Australian Defence Medal and the Anniversary of National Service Medal.

In his civilian life, Dennis worked in the financial services industry, mainly with the Commonwealth Bank of Australia where later in his career held the positions of Head of Financial Markets Queensland and later Area Manager Sales and Service, Ipswich. In semi-retirement, he worked part time for Defence Health Ltd. He has tertiary qualifications in Accounting and Financial Markets, a Diploma in Financial Planning and a Post-Graduate Diploma in Financial Services Management.

Colonel Scanlan first joined the Club in 1971 for a short time, then rejoined in 1990. He was elected to the Club Committee in 2007 where he served on various sub-committees until he was elected as President in 2010 and 2011. Dennis was the last Immediate Past President to serve on the Committee in an ex officio capacity in 2012 and 2013. He was a director of 183 Wickham Terrace Pty Ltd for six years. He established the Club’s History Interest Group in 2012 and was its convenor until 2016.

During his time as President, Dennis focused on improving Club member satisfaction, introducing Queensland Day luncheons and a Children’s Christmas Party. The Club cellar was converted into a function room, and the process was started for Club incorporation and the redevelopment of the “back yard”. The main member areas of the Club were re-carpeted during his tenure. Dennis represented the Club at the Governor’s luncheon for Her Majesty the Queen and HRH the Duke of Edinburgh in October 2011. Dennis was fortunate to dine and converse with Prince Phillip (Club Life Member 1954) during the luncheon.

Dennis enjoys caravanning, kayaking, art (painting,) music and gardening.

Sources included: • Various web pages • United Service Club, Queensland: The First Century, 1892-1992 by Flight Lieutenant Murray Adams and Lieutenant Colonel Peter Charlton • Club Meeting Minutes, Annual Reports and sundry documents • Contribution from Colonel Scanlan April 2020

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